Non-association between anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and ABO blood group system

Rodrigues ACF (1), Uezato S (1), Vono MB (1), Pandossio T (1), Spegiorin LCJF (2), Oliani AH (2), Vaz Oliani DCM (2), Brandão de Mattos CC (1), de Mattos LC (1)

(1) Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Medical School of São José do Rio Preto, FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical School of São José do Rio Preto, FAMERP, and Base Hospital, FUNFARME, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii infects humans through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which elicits humoral immune response with specific antibodies. The expression of the ABO blood group glycoconjugates also occurs in this same system and may influence the human susceptibility of infection by T. gondii. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between ABO blood group phenotypes and the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies. Data &endash; including age, results of serology tests for T. gondii infection and ABO blood group phenotypes &endash; were assembled from the medical records of 1,006 pregnant women attended in the Base Hospital of the Medical School of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, between 2001 and 2004. The chi-square test was used to compare the results with the level of significance set at 5%. Of the studied cases, 64.1% (645/1006) and 35.9% (391/1006) presented respectively positive and negative serology tests for anti-T. gondii antibodies. The mean age of those who tested positive was higher than those with negative serology tests (p = 0.0004). The frequencies of ABO blood group phenotypes were similar in those with and without anti-T. gondii antibodies (p = 0.35). In conclusion, the ABO blood group system is not associated with the presence or absence of anti-T. gondii antibodies.

Key words: human blood groups, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, ABO blood group, pregnant women.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are thankful to the Medical School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for the financial support; and to David Hewitt for English version.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2011

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: December 7, 2010.

Accepted: March 1, 2011.

Abstract published online: March 3, 2011.

Full paper published online: May 31, 2011.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

There is no conflict.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

BIC FAMERP, BAP-FAMERP, and CNPq (process number 131228/2007-2) provided the financial grants for the present study. Cinara de Cássia Brandão de Mattos received grants from CNPq and CAPES. Cinara C. B. de Mattos and Lígia C. J. F. Spegiorin are both doctoral students of a health sciences graduate program in FAMERP. Ana Carolina F. Rodrigues, Simone Uezato, Marielle B. Vono and Thiago Pandossio are undergraduate students of the Medical School of São José do Rio Preto who received institutional grants of the Scientific Initiation Program (BIC-FAMERP 2007/2008). Luiz Carlos de Mattos and Lígia C. J. F. Spegiorn received an institutional grant of FAMERP (BAP-FAMERP).

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Medical School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP),  under the protocol number 169/2007.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

LUIZ CARLOS DE MATTOS, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, FAMERP, Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15.090-000, Brazil. Phone: +55 17 32015854. Fax: +55 17 32291777. Email: luiz.carlos@famerp.br or imunogenetica.famerp@gmail.com.